there's a 10 mile ride & there's a 10 mile ride

[Smudgley]

As some of you may have seen in another thread, I am a complete novice, just learning & enjoying cycling. I've been cycling for about 4 weeks now & I do 10 miles every saturday & 10 miles every sunday and then a few smaller rides in the week.

Yesterday I decided to go for a 10 mile ride, but put a few hills into it. Wow! My legs felt it and at the end I certainly knew I'd been on a hilly ride.

I feel great today though & I'm glad I did the harder ride yesterday. I am looking forward to doing that one again.

 

[numbnuts]

well done

 

[upsidedown]

Good one!!

 

[Mike A]

Keep up the good work

I've been cycling just a few weeks longer than you - and I certainly agree. Cycling has given me a whole new appreciation of the topography of my local area

 

[paraffinlamps]

Well done ,looks like the bug has got you ,there is a certain satisfaction from doing hills ,whereabouts did you go ? .

 

[Smudgley]

Thanks guys. I am loving it. I really hope I keep it up and it's not just something that will fade away.....

Well done ,looks like the bug has got you ,there is a certain satisfaction from doing hills ,whereabouts did you go ? .

This probably won't be a hilly ride to you.
From Wall Heath on A449 towards Kiddy, into Doctors Lane and past Ashwood Marina. I went past the navigation and had to think shall I tackle Camp Bank or not! Decided not. But took the lane that forks off to the left. Up and down & up & down and came out at the end of Greensforge Lane, turned left down the big hill and jumped on the canal at the Stewpony. Got off at the navigation and took the mile flat back. ....... Go on tell me those aren't proper hills .... It was 10 miles exactly.

 

[paraffinlamps]

Sounds a nice little loop just think a couple of times and you have reached 20 miles . A hill is a hill no matter how small or large ,it`s harder than cycling on the flat ,for obvious reasons towpaths tend to be flat .
I have a feeling I know where you went and it is hilly .As for Camp bank ,its a relativley short steep hill ,don`t let it discourage you .Have a go ,if you have to have a rest or get off and walk then do so .
The trick to keeping it going is to get into a routine and try and go out every weekend that you can ,even in the rain , you tend to find after about 3 months it becomes a habit .

 

[Smudgley]

Thanks Parrafinlamps. I have been out every Sat & Sun since I started & intend to carry on doing so.
I kind of realised yesterday that anyone can whizz round 10 miles on the flat, but hills are different. I need to tackle some hills for the challenge I'm doing, but I have 12 months to practice for that.
Maybe next weekend, we'll have a go at Camp bank, just to see how far we can get before stopping, then the next time we do it, we can aim to improve.

I want to try the Baggeridge ride too soon.... Oh there's so many routes I want to do, shame I have to go to work really. I could get used to daily cycling instead of working.

 

[Rollon]

Hills, yeah, and how come once you hit one you hit another and another....
You know what they say.."The only way is up!"
Dave.

 

[aJohnson]

Well done. Hills can really hurt your legs but the descent is always fun. Soon enough you'll be looking for the hilliest routes around.

 

[ASC1951]

Thanks guys. I am loving it. ... jumped on the canal at the Stewpony.

You're really lucky, Smudgley, there is a fantastic network of quiet roads in that whole triangle across to the Severn and down to Kidderminster. By this time next year you will be zipping around it, 50 miles here, 75 miles there, what hills?

Did there used to be an open air pool at Stewpony? I'm sure I remember a school trip from Brum in the 60s when the highlight of the day was being tipped into freezing water in our woolly cozzies.

 

[Smudgley]

We do have some lovely rides round here and the canals are a great way to get used to cycling and to enjoy the scenery.
I asked my husband about the open pool at the Stewpony and he said there was one & he thinks it was called the lido.
I really hope I am whizzing around doing 50's & 75's one day, but for now I will stick to 10's..... actually I think it's time I tried a 15.